How to Make the Harlequin Quilt: Template Piecing Diamonds for Larger Prints
Some fabrics are too beautiful to cut into tiny pieces. Harlequin is a printed paper pattern for a template-pieced diamond pattern quilt suitable for larger prints and feature fabrics. The finished quilt measures 40-1/2 inches by 56 inches, uses standard machine sewing and template piecing, and is rated intermediate.
What Is the Harlequin Pattern?
Harlequin is a printed paper pattern, not a finished quilt or a kit. It gives you the guidance and templates to create a quilt top built from diamond shapes that fit together point to point, giving strong diagonal movement without complicated construction. Because each diamond is a relatively large, single piece of fabric, a print stays mostly intact instead of being chopped into small fragments — which is why the pattern suits larger prints that would lose their impact in a small-patch design.
Why Quilters Choose It
Quilters reach for Harlequin when fabric choice is the star: simple, generous diamonds provide the structure, and your prints provide the color, scale, and personality. Alternating a large-scale print with coordinating solids or smaller prints creates contrast, so each feature fabric stands out. The 40-1/2 by 56 inch size is practical too — large enough for a lap quilt or throw, but manageable on a home machine.
How to Make It, Step by Step
- Read the pattern first. As an intermediate project, Harlequin assumes comfort with standard machine sewing. Read all instructions and study the templates before cutting, and note the finished size so you can plan where the quilt will be used.
- Choose your fabrics. Start with the larger print or feature fabric you want to showcase, then select coordinating fabrics that contrast with it in value or scale. Diamonds sit point to point, so audition neighboring fabrics together before you commit.
- Prepare the templates and cut. Use the templates in the printed paper pattern to mark and cut accurately. Template piecing depends on consistency — every diamond must match in size and angles, or points will not meet cleanly. With a feature print, take a moment to position a favorite motif inside the diamond.
- Piece the diamonds. Join the diamonds using standard machine sewing, following the pattern layout. Press seams as directed and check that points stay sharp — diamond points are the visual signature of a harlequin quilt.
- Finish the quilt. Layer the completed top with batting and backing, quilt as desired, and bind the edges to complete your 40-1/2 by 56 inch quilt.
Practical Tips
Accuracy matters more with diamonds than with squares. Diamond edges include bias, which can stretch, so handle pieces gently and let the feed dogs move the fabric. A consistent seam allowance is essential — small differences add up and shift the points. Press with an up-and-down motion rather than sliding the iron, which can distort angled edges. If you are new to template piecing, sew a test row from scraps first before cutting into your feature print.
Care and Storage
Store the pattern flat in an envelope or folder, away from moisture, so templates stay true to size, and keep templates with the instructions between projects. Care for the finished quilt like other cotton quilts: wash gently in cool water and dry on low or lay flat to preserve the prints and crisp points.
Project Ideas
Build Harlequin around a single beloved large-scale print, or alternate feature prints with solids for a more graphic look. The size works as a sofa throw, wall hanging, or generous lap quilt, and makes a thoughtful gift when you choose a feature fabric that reflects the recipient's interests.
Shop the Harlequin at Linda's Electric Quilters.
